Perspectives: Media Outlets Cast Doubt On Russia's Theory About US-Funded Biolabs in Ukraine

Russian state media and some voices on social media claiming adherence to QAnon have widely spread an accusation that the U.S. is funding biological weapons laboratories in Ukraine, which most outlets across the spectrum have classified as "baseless."

Some theorize that Russia's reasoning for launching airstrikes on Ukraine is to destroy supposed bioweapon-manufacturing labs where Dr. Anthony Fauci is "creating a sequel to the COVID-19 virus." Russia called an emergency UN Security Council Friday to present what they said is evidence of U.S. involvement in "military biological activities" in Ukraine, which some NATO allies claimed could be "a possible prelude" to Russia "launching its own biological or chemical attacks." The biolab theory has been publicly denounced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, White House press secretary Jen Psaki and the U.S. Defense Department. 

Left-rated outlets were more likely to highlight how many voices on "the right embraced Russian disinformation" that became "twisted into a full-blown conspiracy theory," including Tucker Carlson (Right bias) and others who believe "there is absolutely a story here." One writer for The American Conservative (Lean Right bias) emphasized how "it’s now a matter of public record" that the U.S. government was "caught lying" about Fauci researching "how to make coronaviruses more transmissible in humans" in Chinese labs, and therefore, "Carlson’s skepticism is merited."